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Overview

Michigan’s towns and cities, along with its many lakes, make it a popular destination for vacationers in July. In addition to the normal attractions, summer brings a variety of festivals, allowing locals and tourists to enjoy carnivals, shows, tasty treats and handicrafts.

National Cherry Festival

This festival in scenic Traverse City, located at the northern end of the Lower Peninsula, celebrates the cherry and its many products. There you can find cherry jam, cherry bread, cherry salsa, cherry wine and, of course, magnificent cherry pies. The weeklong celebration features a full schedule of events, including a carnival, parade, beach volleyball tournament, air show, hot dog eating contest and cherry pit spitting contest, to name just a few. When not hanging out at the festival you can enjoy Traverse City’s beach or browse through the charming shops downtown.

Ann Arbor Art Fairs

Every July, the streets of downtown Ann Arbor are filled with the sculpture, drawings, paintings and crafts. Four different fairs occur simultaneously, each with its own standards, requirements and atmosphere. Festival-goers can purchase small items, such as a pair of earrings or pottery vase, or 10-foot-high metal sculptures. Visitors can take a break from browsing the booths to watch street performers, dine or shop in downtown Ann Arbor, visit the University of Michigan’s art museum, located nearby, or just stroll through the vibrant campus.

St. Joseph Venetian Festival

In western Michigan, along the Lake Michigan shoreline, is St. Joseph, which celebrates boating each July with its Venetian Festival. Events include a sand sculpture contest, marathon swim, classic boat display, car show and a lighted boat parade -- a must-see.

Coast Guard Festival

A bit farther north along the Lake Michigan shore is Grand Haven, which spends a week each summer celebrating the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Festival begins near the end of July and includes activities such as Coast Guard ship tours, a family street dance, carnival, parade and crafts fair. The festival concludes with a display of fireworks along the riverfront.

References

About the Author

Lorraine Newberry graduated from the University of Michigan and worked in the field of technical writing for several years before turning to freelance writing. Since then she has written for print publications and websites like Go World Travel and Collector's Quest, as well as her own website, Traveling Latin America.